JP2012098478A - Image forming apparatus, image forming system and control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent outputs of a print result undesired by a user caused when different hues of sheets are registered as the same color name.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: reading means for reading a hue of a sheet; retrieval means for retrieving hue data corresponding to the hue read by the reading means in a color sample data base; control means for automatically registering the hue data retrieved by the retrieval means and a color name corresponding to the retrieved hue data in a paper brand data base, and presenting a user the color name corresponding to the retrieved hue data; and setting means for, corresponding to the selection by the user of the color name presented by the control means from color names registered in the paper brand data base, setting a sheet corresponding to the color name selected by the user on a paper feed stage.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming system, and a control method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus that causes a user to specify the color of a sheet to be used for printing and feeds the sheet from a sheet feed tray on which a sheet of a color specified by the user is set (Patent Document 1). .

  In Patent Document 1, the color of a sheet is registered in advance in each cassette stage of the image forming apparatus. Thereafter, when the color of the sheet instructed by the user is already set in the cassette stage of the image forming apparatus, the sheet in the cassette stage is used for printing. If the paper size or color does not match, a search is made for a cassette stage that has not been searched. If there is no cassette stage that matches the specified size and color, a message indicating that there is no paper is output. According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228688, the user can specify the color of the paper such as blue or pink from the driver, and can feed the paper of a desired color to the image forming apparatus for printing.

  The conventional image forming apparatus also includes a paper brand database that stores various paper settings. This paper brand database is a database in which setting items necessary for printing (for example, paper size, basis weight, etc.) are collected for each paper. The image forming apparatus can use the paper selected by the user from the paper brand database. In this paper brand database, data corresponding to paper sold by a paper manufacturer is prepared in advance as various paper settings required for printing. The user can perform printing by selecting any of the data in the paper brand database and setting it in each cassette stage. The setting item of the paper brand database includes a paper color item, and the user can confirm the color of the paper by registering the paper in the paper brand database in advance. For example, the operation unit may select one of a plurality of colors (white, blue, cream, Yamabuki, gray, green, ivory, orange, pink, red, yellow, transparent, etc.) prepared in advance when registering paper. Can be specified when printing.

JP 2002-193465 A

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the same color name is registered for papers of different colors, the print result desired by the user may not be output.

  For example, the user A may register dark yellow paper as yellow in the paper feed stage, and the user B may register light yellow paper as yellow in another paper feed stage.

  Assume that user A then designates “yellow” and issues a print instruction to feed dark yellow paper to the image forming apparatus. In this case, the image forming apparatus searches for a paper feed stage set to “yellow” and feeds paper. At this time, the paper feed stage in which light yellow paper is set by the user B matches the condition. Therefore, there is a case where the paper is fed from the paper feed stage. As a result, a light yellow paper unintended by the user A is used for printing.

  In addition, there is an image forming apparatus that switches the paper feed tray to be used when the paper in the paper feed tray runs short. When such an image forming apparatus first feeds dark yellow paper from a paper feed tray registered with “yellow”, and when there is a shortage of paper in that paper feed tray, the same “yellow” is registered. Light yellow paper may be fed from the paper feed stage. In that case, the color of the printing result changes in the middle.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a mechanism for preventing a print result desired by a user from being output due to registration of the same color name for paper of different colors. Is.

  In order to solve the above problems, an apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads the color of a sheet, a search unit that searches the color sample database for color data corresponding to the color read by the reading unit, The color data searched by the search means and the color name corresponding to the searched color data are automatically registered in the paper brand database, and the color name corresponding to the searched color data is registered by the user. And the color name selected by the user in response to the user selecting and operating the color name presented by the control means from the color names registered in the paper brand database. Setting means for setting the corresponding paper in the paper feed stage.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the printing result desired by the user from being output by the same color name being registered by the user with respect to papers of different colors.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system. It is a figure which shows a consumable goods confirmation screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a sheet registration / setting selection screen. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of paper. It is a figure which shows a paper information display screen. It is a figure which shows a paper type management screen. It is a figure which shows a paper data details and edit screen. It is a figure which shows a paper reading warning screen. It is a figure which shows a comparison result display screen. It is a figure which shows a driver screen. It is a figure which shows the color registration flow which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the color registration flow which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the color confirmation flow which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the scope of the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the invention.

(First embodiment)
In this embodiment, a user wants to read a sheet to be registered in the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus automatically designates an appropriate color name of the loaded sheet and registers it in the sheet brand database. A process from when the user designates a color name registered in the paper brand database to printing with the image forming apparatus will be described.

<System configuration (Fig. 1)>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment. The image forming system according to the present embodiment includes client PCs 106 and 107 (information processing apparatuses) and an image forming apparatus 100. These are connected to each other via a network 109.

  The client PCs 106 and 107 have a driver 108 for issuing a print instruction including various settings to the image forming apparatus 100. The driver 108 outputs PDL data such as general-purpose PostScript (hereinafter referred to as PS) data that is a print job. At this time, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment can also accept PDL data input from various drivers.

  The image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation unit 101, a reading unit 102, a paper type information storage unit 103, a control unit 104, and an input / output unit 105. The operation unit 101 inputs / outputs information from the user to the image forming apparatus, and has a UI (user interface) that allows the user to input a paper type name indicating the paper type, a paper color, and the like. Have. The reading unit 102 includes a scanner unit, and performs input from the top plate, input using a sheet feeder, and input of color data from a spectroscopic sensor installed in the body.

  The paper type information storage unit 103 includes a paper brand database (hereinafter referred to as a paper brand DB) and a color sample database (hereinafter referred to as a color sample DB). The paper brand DB is a database in which color names are assigned to each paper, and settings necessary for printing (for example, paper size, basis weight, etc.) are collectively managed corresponding to each color name. In the paper brand DB, data corresponding to the paper sold by the paper manufacturer is prepared. The user can use the paper necessary for printing in the image forming apparatus by setting the data in each of the plurality of cassette stages (paper feed stages). The setting item of the paper brand DB includes an item of color name, and in this embodiment, further has color data.

  The color sample DB is a set of color sample books that summarize basic colors in the printing market and CIELAB (L * a * b color system) values, and is used when selecting a color name from CIELAB. . Here, a description will be given using data of a color sample book manufactured by PANTONE. The PANTONE color sample book indicates color numbers and densities as percentages, and is widely used as a color designation method in the printing industry. In the present embodiment, a plurality of colors are expressed by the density of each color of the L * a * b color system, but may be expressed using the RGB color system.

  The control unit 104 has similarity determination means that compares the color data of the paper read by the reading unit 102 and the color data of the paper type information storage unit 103 with feature amounts and determines whether or not they are similar. . The input / output unit 105 receives a print job input from the driver 108 via the network 109. The input unit 105 has a function of transmitting the paper information set by the paper type information storage unit 103 to the driver.

<Consumables management screen (Figure 2)>
FIG. 2 shows a consumables management screen 200 including the cassette stage of the image forming apparatus displayed on the operation unit 101 of the image forming apparatus. The consumable item management screen 200 includes cassette stage information 202, device status 203, and other information 204. The cassette stage information 202 is information indicating what type of paper is set in each cassette stage of the image forming apparatus. The device status 203 is information that clearly indicates where the cassette stage is located on the image of the image forming apparatus when the user selects the cassette stage item of the cassette stage information 202. The other information 204 is information indicating the remaining amount of toner and staples. When the user presses a paper registration button 205, the operation unit 101 displays a paper registration screen 300 shown in FIG.

<Paper registration screen (Fig. 3)>
In order to perform printing with the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to register and manage paper information in the paper brand DB stored in the paper type information storage unit 103, and to assign the managed paper to the cassette stage. is necessary. FIG. 3 is a screen that displays which of the two procedures is to be selected so as to be selectable to the user. The operation unit 101 switches the screen display depending on whether the paper setting button 301 is pressed or the paper type management button 302 is pressed.

<Paper brand DB management screen, etc. (FIGS. 6 and 7)>
When the paper type management button 302 is pressed on the paper registration screen shown in FIG. 3, a paper brand DB management screen 600 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the operation unit 101. The paper information 601 includes values necessary for printing such as paper name, paper size, color name, color data, basis weight, and surface property. In this paper brand DB, data corresponding to paper sold by a paper manufacturer is prepared in advance. Furthermore, when the user selects a desired sheet and presses the copy button 603, the sheet data is copied, and the user can register the new sheet data by customizing the copied sheet data. . On the other hand, when the user presses the detail / edit button 602 in a state where a desired sheet is selected on the list of sheet information 601, a detailed edit screen 700 for the sheet is displayed on the operation unit 101 as shown in FIG. Is done. If the OK button is pressed after accepting editing by the user, the control unit 104 registers the information in the paper brand DB.

<Cassette tray and paper setting screen (FIGS. 4 and 5)>
When the paper setting button 301 is pressed on the paper registration screen shown in FIG. 3, the cassette stage setting screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the operation unit 101. The number of cassette stages to be fed varies depending on the optional configuration of the image forming apparatus. The operation unit 101 switches the display according to the option configuration, and here, buttons 402 corresponding to five cassette stages including manual feed are displayed. When the user selects a button for a desired cassette stage, the paper information 406 set for the selected cassette stage is displayed at the bottom of the screen. For example, in FIG. 4, the cassette stage 1 button is selected, and the paper size “A4” and the paper type “plain paper 1” are set in the cassette stage 1 in the paper information 406 column. Is displayed.

  When changing the paper set in the cassette stage, the cassette stage to be changed is selected and the setting button 403 at the upper right of the screen is pressed. When the setting button 403 is pressed, a paper setting screen 500 shown in FIG. Paper information 501 displayed at the center of the screen is information on the paper brand DB. The paper information 501 includes information such as the paper name, paper size, type, color name, tint data, and basis weight. Further, “**” in the paper name column indicates the paper currently set in the cassette stage. For example, in FIG. 5, it is displayed that “◯ × paper making” paper is set in the cassette stage 1. When it is desired to change the paper set in the cassette stage, the user can select the name of the paper to be set and press the OK button 605 to change the paper. If the current setting is acceptable, a cancel button can be pressed. In this way, the control unit 104 sets the paper selected according to the user input to the cassette stage.

<Driver print setting screen (FIG. 10)>
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a print setting screen by the driver 108 installed in the client PCs 106 and 107. The driver 108 on the client PC performs two-way communication with the paper brand DB, and the newly registered paper data can be reflected in the paper brand DB by selecting on the driver. In the present embodiment, a paper color item 1004 that does not exist in the conventional driver is prepared on the driver and can be selected. The options displayed at this time use the values of the PANTONE color sample book so that the user can easily understand. When the user selects one of the options, the CIELAB value 1005 as color data is also displayed. The user selects and prints candidates from the driver based on the color name of the paper registered in the paper settings.

<Color registration flow (FIG. 11)>
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flowchart for registering the color of the paper in this embodiment. Here, a process from reading the color of the paper by the reading unit 102, searching the color sample DB stored in the paper type information storage unit 103, and registering the corresponding color name in the paper brand DB will be described. .

  First, when it is detected that the color reading button 701 existing on the detailed editing screen 700 shown in FIG. 7 is pressed by the user (S101), the operation unit 101 displays a paper scanning instruction screen 800 shown in FIG. S102). The scan instruction screen 800 is a screen for notifying that scanning of a sheet set in the scanner unit is started by a user input.

  When it is detected that the user has pressed the OK button 801 (S103), the reading unit 102 reads the color from the paper set in the scanner unit and generates color data (S104). In this embodiment, the color data uses values of the L * a * b color system (CIELAB). CIELAB consists of values of lightness (L) and hue / saturation (ab), and is color data of an international standard.

  Then, the control unit 104 searches the color sample DB for color data closest to the color data read and generated by the reading unit 102 (S105). This search process is performed based on the feature amount of the color data (for example, CIELAB value). The color data is composed of a large number of colors (about 7000 types of colors). In the color data, colors that are discriminated as different colors depending on human eyes are handled as different colors. Then, the color name corresponding to the searched color data is automatically registered in the paper brand DB (S106). At this time, the paper size, paper type, and the like are also registered. The registered color name or the like is notified (presented) to the user. Here, notification to the user is performed by displaying on the display of the image forming apparatus.

  In this embodiment, the color name is not arbitrarily given by the user, but the color name registered in the color sample DB is registered as it is in the paper brand DB. Further, although the color data closest to the color data generated in S105 is searched, the same or similar color data is searched, and the user is made to select desired color data from the search results. May be. In that case, the color name corresponding to the color data selected by the user in S106 may be registered in the paper brand DB.

  After the registration process in S106, the user sets the paper registered in the paper brand DB to a desired cassette level. If the user remembers the color name notified when the searched color name is registered in the paper brand DB, the paper color item 1004 displayed on the print setting screen of the driver 108 of the client PC 106 or 107 is stored. It is possible to print by designating a color name using.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the color data closest to the actual color is searched in the color sample DB, and the color name corresponding to the searched color data is automatically registered in the paper brand DB. For this reason, different color names are automatically registered in different color sheets. For example, since different color data is searched for light yellow and dark yellow paper, different color names are automatically registered.

  Therefore, since different color names are assigned to different color sheets, it is possible to suppress the use of sheets of color unintended by the user when the user performs printing. For example, it is possible to suppress the use of dark yellow paper instead of light yellow paper. Thereby, the deterioration of print quality can be suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, a sheet is read by the reading unit of the image forming apparatus, color data closest to the read color is searched in the color sample DB, and a color name corresponding to the searched color data is determined as a paper brand. Automatically register in DB. Then, the processing until the user sets the paper of the registered color name in a desired cassette stage and prints it has been described. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the color name corresponding to the color read by the reading unit of the image forming apparatus is determined and registered in the paper brand DB without using the color sample DB. Note that the configuration of the apparatus and the like are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, and only different parts will be described.

<Color registration flow (FIG. 12)>
FIG. 12 shows a flowchart for comparing the respective color data. The processing of S201 to S204 is the same as the processing of S101 to S104 of the first embodiment. When the reading unit 102 reads the sheet color data A (S204), the control unit 104 acquires the sheet color data A set in each cassette stage, which is read by the reading unit 102 (S204). S205).

  Then, the control unit 104 determines whether there is a cassette stage in which a sheet having a color close to the read color data A is already set (S206). In this determination, it is determined that the values of L, a, and b of the read color data are close when they are within a predetermined range (± 2). The control unit 104 displays all the cassette stages and the color names of the sheets set in the cassette stages in the list 905 in FIG. S207).

  When any of the cassette stages displayed in the list 905 of FIG. 9 is selected by the user, the control unit 104 displays the color name 903 set in the cassette stage and its color data. 904 is displayed. Further, in the device 902 (entire view of the device) displayed on the upper right of the screen, the position of the selected cassette stage in the image forming apparatus is displayed (shaded portion in the figure). When the candidate color selected from the color sample DB is displayed, the value of the color data 904 is also displayed at the time of selection. When one of the candidate color names is selected, the control unit 104 registers the selected color name in the paper brand DB (S208).

  On the other hand, if there is no cassette stage in which a sheet of color close to the color data A is set, the color data of the paper brand DB is acquired (S209), and the color close to the read color data A. It is determined whether or not the data is in the paper brand DB (S210). When the color data close to the color data A already exists in the paper brand DB, all candidate color names are displayed in the list 905 (S211). Then, the control unit 104 registers the color name selected by the user in the paper brand DB (S212).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S210 that there is no color data close to the read color data A in the paper brand DB, only the newly registered items are displayed in the list 905 (S213). When the new registration item is selected by the user, a new color name input screen (not shown) is displayed (S214), and temporary items that disappear when the power is turned off are displayed in the color sample DB. Create (S215). When the control unit 104 receives an input operation of a new name by the user, the control unit 104 registers the color name of the read color data A in the paper brand DB using the input new name (S216).

  According to the present embodiment, when a near-colored paper is set in the paper feed stage, when a new paper is set in the paper feed stage, a near-colored paper is set in another paper feed stage. To the user. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the user from registering sheets of different colors in the cassette stage with the same color name.

(Third embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the control unit of the image forming apparatus compares the color data of the read paper with the color data of the paper brand DB, and the same color data as the color data of the read paper is the paper brand. An example in which a warning is given to a user when already registered in the DB has been described.

  In the present embodiment, the paper stored in each cassette stage of the image forming apparatus is fed at a timing intended by the user, and the color data of the fed paper is read for each cassette stage. Then, it is determined whether or not the read color data is the same as the color data set in each cassette stage. Thus, the user who uses the image forming apparatus has the same color data of the paper actually stored in the cassette stage and the color data of the paper set in the cassette stage at a desired timing. You can check whether or not. For example, when another user has stored a sheet of a color different from the setting in a certain cassette stage, but has not changed the color setting of that cassette stage, it is actually stored in the cassette. The color of the paper is different from the color of the paper set in the cassette stage. Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, after the image forming apparatus is started, whether the color of the paper actually stored in the cassette stage is the same as the color of the paper set in the cassette stage. An image forming apparatus capable of easily confirming this will be described. Here, only parts different from the second embodiment will be described.

<Color check flow (FIG. 14)>
When the user presses a sheet confirmation button 206 prepared in the center of the screen of the operation unit 101 shown in FIG. 2 (S301), the control unit 104 loads sheets from all cassette stages into the cylinder of the image forming apparatus 100. Pull in (S302). The reading unit 102 reads the color data of the drawn paper using the spectroscopic unit installed in the sheet conveyance path in the cylinder (S303). The control unit 104 obtains the color name of the paper data set in the cassette stage from the paper brand DB (S304). Further, the control unit 104 obtains the color data corresponding to the color name of each cassette stage obtained in S304 from the color sample DB (S305).

  Then, the control unit 104 determines whether or not the color data read in S303 is the same as the color data obtained in S305 (S306). If they are the same, the color of the paper actually stored in the cassette stage matches the color of the paper set in the cassette stage, and no problem occurs. Terminate the process.

  On the other hand, if different, the operation unit 101 presents to the user that the color data read in S303 and the color data obtained in S305 are different (S307). In this embodiment, the information is displayed in the cassette stage information 202 of FIG. Then, the control unit 104 determines whether or not the cassette stage is set to automatically open (S308). If it is set to open automatically, the control unit 104 opens the cassette stage (S309). Thus, the user can determine whether or not the color of the paper actually set in the cassette stage is correct by checking the paper stored in the opened cassette stage. On the other hand, if the setting is not set to open automatically, the cassette stage is not automatically opened. However, if the user opens the cassette stage by looking at the display of the cassette stage information 202, the color of the paper is the same. It can be determined whether the taste setting is correct.

(Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, an example is described of a print job in which paper information is set in the cassette stage and then the color name of the paper to be used for printing is designated by the external PC driver to instruct printing. did. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to a copy job. For example, the user can also specify the color name of the paper to be used for printing via the operation unit 101 of the image forming apparatus 100 and apply printing. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 may display a screen instead of the screens shown in FIGS. 2 to 10 on the operation unit 101 and accept an instruction from the user.

  The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

Claims (12)

Reading means for reading the color of the paper;
Search means for searching the color sample database for color data corresponding to the color read by the reading means;
The color data searched by the search means and the color name corresponding to the searched color data are automatically registered in the paper brand database, and the color name corresponding to the searched color data is registered by the user. Control means presented in
The paper corresponding to the color name selected by the user is set in the paper feed stage in response to the user selecting the color name presented by the control means from the color names registered in the paper brand database. Setting means to
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The color sample database stores the color data in which each of a plurality of colors is expressed by a density for each color of the L * a * b color system or the RGB color system. The image forming apparatus described.   The paper brand database collectively manages the color data, the color name assigned to the color data, and the settings necessary for printing including the type and size of the paper for each paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   In response to the user's selection of a color name presented by the control means from among the color names registered in the paper brand database, the setting means determines the paper corresponding to the color name selected by the user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color data, the color name, and settings necessary for the printing are set in a paper feed stage.   Printing means for performing printing using the paper stored in the designated paper feed stage in response to a user's print instruction including designation of the paper feed stage in which the paper corresponding to the color name is set The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Reading means for reading the color of the paper;
When there is a paper feed stage in which paper having color data corresponding to the color read by the reading unit is set, the paper set in any of the paper feed stages Presenting means for selectively presenting to the user whether to register the paper read by the reading means with the color name corresponding to the color data in the paper brand database;
Registration means for registering paper corresponding to the color name selected by the user from among the color names presented by the presenting means in the paper brand database;
The color name selected by the user in response to the user again selecting the color name selected from the color names presented by the presenting means from among the color names registered in the paper brand database. A setting means for setting the corresponding paper in the paper feed stage;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The presenting means has no paper feed stage in which paper having color data corresponding to the color read by the reading means is set, and the color data registered in the paper brand database If there is color data corresponding to the color read by the reading means, the paper read by the reading means with the color name corresponding to any color data of the color data is the paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming apparatus presents the user with a choice of whether to register in the brand database. An image forming system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that performs printing in response to a print instruction from the information processing apparatus,
Reading means of the image forming apparatus for reading the color of the paper;
A search unit of the image forming apparatus that searches a color sample database for color data corresponding to the color read by the reading unit;
The color data searched by the search means and the color name corresponding to the searched color data are automatically registered in the paper brand database, and the color name corresponding to the searched color data is registered by the user. Control means of the image forming apparatus presented to
The paper corresponding to the color name selected by the user is set in the paper feed stage in response to the user selecting the color name presented by the control means from the color names registered in the paper brand database. Setting means of the image forming apparatus;
In response to a user specifying a paper feed stage in which a sheet corresponding to the color name is set and a print instruction being given, the user issues a print instruction including designation of the paper feed stage to the image forming apparatus. Printing instruction means of the information processing apparatus;
A printing unit of the image forming apparatus that performs printing using a sheet stored in a specified paper feed stage in response to a print instruction from the information processing apparatus;
An image forming system comprising: An image forming system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that performs printing in response to a print instruction from the information processing apparatus,
Reading means of the image forming apparatus for reading the color of the paper;
When there is a paper feed stage in which paper having color data corresponding to the color read by the reading unit is set, the paper set in any of the paper feed stages Presenting means of the image forming apparatus that presents the user with a choice of whether to register the paper read by the reading means with the color name corresponding to the color data in the paper brand database;
A registration unit of the image forming apparatus that registers a sheet corresponding to a color name selected by a user from among the color names presented by the presenting unit in the sheet brand database;
The color name selected by the user in response to the user again selecting the color name selected from the color names presented by the presenting means from among the color names registered in the paper brand database. Setting means of the image forming apparatus for setting the corresponding paper in the paper feed stage;
In response to a user specifying a paper feed stage in which a sheet corresponding to the color name is set and a print instruction being given, the user issues a print instruction including designation of the paper feed stage to the image forming apparatus. Printing instruction means of the information processing apparatus;
A printing unit of the image forming apparatus that performs printing using a sheet stored in a specified paper feed stage in response to a print instruction from the information processing apparatus;
An image forming system comprising: An image forming apparatus control method comprising:
A reading process in which the reading unit of the image forming apparatus reads the color of the paper;
A search step in which the search unit of the image forming apparatus searches the color sample database for color data corresponding to the color read in the reading step;
The control unit of the image forming apparatus automatically registers the color data searched in the search step and the color name corresponding to the searched color data in the paper brand database, and the searched color A control step of presenting a color name corresponding to the taste data to the user;
The setting unit of the image forming apparatus sets the color name selected by the user in response to the user selecting the color name presented in the control step from the color names registered in the paper brand database. A setting process for setting the corresponding paper in the paper feed stage;
A control method comprising: An image forming apparatus control method comprising:
A reading process in which the reading unit of the image forming apparatus reads the color of the paper;
When there is a paper feed stage in which the paper having color data corresponding to the color read in the reading step is set by the presentation unit of the image forming apparatus, any of the paper feed stages is selected. A presentation step of selectively presenting to the user whether to register the paper read in the reading step with the color name corresponding to the color data of the paper set in the paper tray in the paper brand database;
A registration step in which the registration unit of the image forming apparatus registers, in the paper brand database, paper corresponding to the color name selected by the user from among the color names presented in the presentation step;
In response to the setting unit of the image forming apparatus selecting again the color name selected from the color names presented in the presenting step from among the color names registered in the paper brand database. A setting step for setting paper corresponding to the color name selected by the user in the paper feed stage;
A control method comprising:   A program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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